A MAN was led to safety from a burning flat by firefighters after he fell asleep and his kitchen caught fire.

Crews from Erdington and Aston were called to the blaze at Dawson Court in Spring Hill, Erdington, by quick-thinking builders who raised the alarm after they smelled smoke and spotted flames coming from the ground-floor dwelling yesterday.

The man, who was not woken by his smoke alarm, was treated for smoke inhalation but did not go to hospital.

Firefighters prevented the flames from spreading to other rooms and neighbouring flats and left the scene after about an hour in attendance.

Much of the property was smoke logged.

It is thought that the blaze was caused by an unattended pan which had boiled over and ignited.